Senator Bellemare: Senator Gold, when will we have the opportunity to discuss with Minister Qualtrough the urgent need for EI reform?

Senator Carignan: Mr. Leader, I would like to quote paragraph 57 of the 2014 Reference re Senate Reform, in which the Supreme Court quotes itself in the Upper House Reference. Paragraph 57 reads as follows:

[i]n creating the Senate in the manner provided in the Act, it is clear that the intention was to make the Senate a thoroughly independent body which could canvass dispassionately the measures of the House of Commons

When we do pre-studies, we are studying measures drafted by public servants, not measures adopted by the House of Commons, but that is not our role. You are absolutely right when you say that, if we follow my logic, which is based on the fundamental reasons the Senate was created, we would not do pre-studies. I completely agree.